88%. That’s the amount of time we spend on apps. There are apps created for literally everything under the sun. Mobile apps are expected to register a revenue of $935Bn by 2023 and there are already around 2.87 million apps on Google Play Store. An average smartphone user uses almost 10 apps per day. These are not mere numbers, but tell a compelling story about the importance and growth of mobile apps in our lives, be it for business or personal use. This also shows how relevant mobile application security in the current times is. App wrapping is one way to achieve the goal of securing mobile applications as and when they are developed. But is it enough? Let us find out!
What is App Wrapping?
App wrapping is a way to add security and management features to an app without changing how it works. It’s commonly used by businesses to protect company data on employee devices. With mobile app wrapping, IT teams can set rules like blocking copy-paste, requiring a passcode, or preventing data from being shared outside the app. The original app stays the same for the user, but it now follows certain security policies in the background. This makes it easier for companies to control apps while still giving employees the tools they need.
For example, sending an SMS from an iOS device is only possible through its own built-in app. App wrapping is usually undertaken by using an SDK of the app or through an EMM (Enterprise Mobility Management) vendor.
How App Wrapping Works
The key point of app wrapping is that it is just concerned with what actions users can take. The main focus is to avoid any security loopholes or data breaches. A simple code covering specific instructions is injected in the enterprise binary, without impacting the functionality or the features of the app. It requires minor tweaks, allows users to pick and choose elements that need to be controlled and provides pre-existing software for commonly restricted elements.
What Security Policies Are Enforced Through App Wrapping
Policies can be set by companies to ensure that certain actions are restricted. Some typical examples of policies could be:
Security policies:
These focus on developing self-defending apps which are capable of running securely on multiple devices and OS. These could cover scenarios like encryption, authentication, jailbreak detection, runtime checks etc. Some other examples could be: VPN access enforcement, single sign-on, selectively wiping off data, controlling actions like printing, copying, file exports etc.
Management policies:
These focus on protecting users and giving pointed permissions/roles to specific users to ensure data is not visible or shared illegally
Analytics policies:
These focus on helping teams know how their apps are being, who uses the apps, why it is used etc.
App Wrapping vs. Containerization: What’s the Difference
Containerization is also another way of securing a mobile app – but it is done in a slightly different way. Here, an app and its data are stored in separate encrypted zones within a mobile device. Different versions of codes are used and it does have its own limitations. It is a little more complicated than app wrapping, since extending it to 3rd party apps is a challenge and it usually comes with only one set of policies. This means a single breach will expose many other apps related to a company. Also, there is a limit to the number of apps an employee can use.
App Wrapping vs. Native Apps: What Sets Them Apart
App wrapping and native apps differ mainly in how they’re built and how they perform. Native apps are developed specifically for a platform like iOS or Android using that platform’s own tools and languages. This allows them to run smoothly and can access all device features. App wrapping, on the other hand, takes an existing app and adds a security or management layer without changing the core code. This makes it easier to control and protect apps, especially in a business setting, but it can limit performance or compatibility. In short, native apps offer the best experience, while app wrapping offers faster deployment and easier control.
What are the Abilities of App Wrapping?
- Enhancement of app security with app wrapping’s features like encryption, authentication, remote erase, copy protection, and screenshot limits to applications that may lack native support for these safeguards.
- Efficiently manage apps by assigning them according to roles and enabling automatic updates for seamless maintenance.
- Boost visibility and control of data access with analytics, monitoring, and auditing.
What are the Key Features of App Wrapping?
- Using unified sign-on, you can access all corporate data from one place.
- Check for jailbreaks and compromised devices, and block them from being used.
- In order to increase security, you should reauthenticate after inactivity or when the app is closed.
- Corporate data security requires an administrator-initiated automatic wipe.
- Ensure data protection by preventing screenshots, copying/pasting, exporting and printing data.
What Are the Pros and Cons of App Wrapping?
App wrapping has had its own journey. It helps protect the OS and the user in a simple way through tight controls. For example, an admin can restrict copy-paste activity when it comes to corporate data present in an app. OS-specific restrictions can also be imposed. For example: camera capture can be blocked in certain applications. But it does put a lot of load on the resources like processor performance, data storage etc. which could ultimately lead to slower performance and impact the end-user experience. Sometimes companies might have to invest in an additional tool to protect the wrapper itself. Security is also not complete or top-notch. For example, even though a wrapper can protect other applications from connecting to a specific one, the data that is already present in the device can still get exposed and accessed.
Should You Consider App Wrapping?
App wrapping is a good starting point but its limitations cannot be overlooked. Since security policies are getting updated regularly, applications need to be protected in a much more holistic way. App wrapping alone might not suffice. This is where a runtime application self-protection (RASP) solution could add further value by holistically scanning mobile applications in real time for any threats or security loopholes. Since applications interact with a host of other players in the mobile ecosystem like users, back-end servers and databases apart from other applications, protection of app and user data are both crucial. Attack vectors have been evolving and RASP is the perfect answer to deal with them since apart from just monitoring for threats in real time, RASP can also initiate measures to stop them. DoveRunner’s no-code deployment and seamless integration ensure that the RASP program gets embedded in the app program’s code as a robust framework for continuous monitoring and protection. Its learning capabilities also ensure that it is always one step ahead of attackers. Try it today!
Frequently Asked Questions on App Wrapping
1. What is a mobile app wrapper?
A mobile app wrapper, also known as a web wrapper or hybrid app, is a mobile app solution that wraps a website into an app framework. The website or web application runs the same way it does on the web, but is inside a native container that can be installed on a mobile device like a traditional app. The app uses web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create a user interface that looks and feels like a native app.
2. Does app wrapping require access to the app’s source code to create a wrapped app?
No, app wrapping does not require access to the source code of the app as most of the app wrapping tools can apply security and management policies to the existing app. They use the binary file of the app, such as APK for Android and IPA for iOS.
3. Is app wrapping suitable for all types of apps, including third-party and custom wrapped apps?
App wrapping works well for many apps, especially the ones that have internal or custom-built. However, it may not work well for all third-party apps, especially the ones that are encrypted, signed, or restricted by the developer. Apps that are heavily dependent on certain native features or have stringent licensing agreements may dysfunction or have bugs after app wrapping.
4. Does a wrapped app seem different to the end user?
In most cases, users will not notice major differences in how the app looks or works. However, they may come across certain restrictions like added security steps, such as login prompts, restrictions on sharing data, or limited access to certain features. These controls are generally the company policies to protect sensitive information.
5. Is any training or onboarding required after an app is wrapped?
Not really as an app wrapped with DoveRunner or any other security doesn’t show on the front end. Thus any existing user that is already familiar with the working of the app will not require any additional training to use the app.
